Chorus of beeping phones alerts nation

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Hari Prasad Chaurasia, a world-renowned Indian flautist, does
not usually have trouble holding his audience, but on Monday night
many of his listeners were surreptitiously working their mobile
phones. For many, the security alert texts were the first indicator
that Nepalese political culture was about to turn on its head.

The after-concert reception, hosted by the Indian embassy, was
abuzz with speculation about what the troop build-up on the streets
might mean. The 400-strong crowd included the Deputy Prime Minister
and six cabinet members, senior army officers and newspaper
editors. The chief of Nepal's army had been expected but did not
appear.

On Tuesday the Indian ambassador kept an 8.30 am appointment
with the Prime Minister, Sher Bahadur Deuba, at his official
residence. He sensed something was up when there were no guards.
The Prime Minister told him: "It's over now for me". It is the
second time in three years he has been sacked by the king.

At 10 am the king began his proclamation to the nation. He would
speak for 35 minutes, endorsing multi-party democracy and then
dissolving the government, committing to uphold human rights and
then saying "it would be unfair to put the state and the terrorists
on the same footing". He applauded the independent press, but
imposed a six-month blackout on discussion of this week's events.
Twenty minutes into his speech the phone grid was shut down.

In Nepal, the people have not read the Maoists' "utter
denunciation" of the king's proclamation, only the glowing report
that "King administers shock therapy to prostrate nation".

The army has feigned ignorance of the king's plans, saying it
was as surprised as anyone by the announcement and had just
followed orders. However, the movement of troops into Kathmandu and
the precision with which the communications network was shut down,
politicians were placed under house arrest, and international
airport was locked down reflect careful planning.

There is private discussion about the leader in this dance with
autocracy. "The army and the king have a symbiotic relationship,"
said a western observer.